Ludwig von Bertalanffy PhD Scholarship

The Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science offers a 3 year scholarship for the support of work in Systems Science leading to a PhD-degree at an Austrian university.

The last Ludwig von Bertalanffy PhD Scholarship was awarded in 2013.Currently there is no call, for updates please visit our website again or subscribe to our BCSSS newsletter here!

Please find in the following the general guidelines for the Ludwig von Bertalanffy PhD Scholarship.

1 Objectives

The Ludwig von Bertalanffy PhD Scholarship is intended to enable a PhD student to carry out a dissertation project that contributes to the advancement of systems sciences.

The BCSSS will provide an inspiring work environment available to the student and help the junior scientist focus on the project.

2 Conditions

2.1 Thematic orientation: the project under consideration promises to yield or promote new findings in systems science.

The project may pertain to any academic field, ranging from Philosophy and the Formal Sciences to the Natural Sciences as well as the Social and Human Sciences and the Engineering Sciences.

The methodology used in the project must be related to one of the systems approaches applied to either empirical research into systems, systems theory, or the design of systems.

Projects that deal with major challenges of our time, in particular with technological, ecological and social risks (promoting, e.g., participatory technology assessment, provisions for climate change, economic crises resolution, democracy-building, or conflict transformation) are welcome. So are projects that aim at transdisciplinarity or at bridging gaps between different approaches.

2.2 Qualification: the grantee is required to enrol in an Austrian university doctoral programme. Official approval of the dissertation project by the chosen university must be provided.

2.3 Integration with the BCSSS: the grantee is expected to establish and strengthen co-operation with the BCSSS.

The BCSSS provides a stimulating work environment. One of the two or three supervisors nominated by the university for the supervision of the thesis project has to be chosen in agreement with the BCSSS; this person guarantees that the systems aspect of the project is adequately represented. In addition, the grantee takes advantage from the feedback provided by other international researchers affiliated to the BCSSS. He/she will be invited to give presentations of his/her progress with the thesis work to experts, the public, or stakeholders on a regular basis.

The BCSSS will offer the possibility of publishing parts of the work or a version of the approved dissertation in appropriate outlets. The BCSSS does not influence content or structure of the project and does not obtain any rights to the project results.

2.4 Duration, amount, legal arrangements: the Ludwig von Bertalanffy PhD Scholarship will be awarded for a maximum period of 3 years.

The grantee will be employed by the BCSSS. The grant is paid as a salary. The salary amounts to the corresponding personnel costs for PhD students as published by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) on an ongoing basis. The BCSSS will not bear any additional costs of the grantee.

At the end of each semester the grantee has to demonstrate sufficient work progress. A brief report by the principal academic supervisor is mandatory. If the principal supervisor is not the one selected in agreement with the BCSSS, the co-supervisor related to the BCSSS has to provide an additional report to the Scholarship Committee. The BCSSS reserves the right to cancel the grant when progress with the thesis work is not satisfactory with regard to the requirements listed above.

3 Application

Applications for a Ludwig von Bertalanffy PhD Scholarship have to be submitted electronically to the Managing Director of the BCSSS <stefan.blachfellner@bcsss.org>.

The application has to include

• a description of the thesis work, indicating the intended goals and results relevant to the promotion of systems science;
• a work plan for the entire project and a time schedule with details for the first year period;
• a CV of the candidate;
• a list of the candidate’s publications (if applicable);
• a review by the intended supervisor of the dissertation project, including an evaluation of the candidate’s academic performance and potential.

The BCSSS will seek external reviewers of the project application.

The BCSSS Scholarship Committee will invite selected candidates for an interview.

The final decision will be made by the Scholarship Committee based on the quality and content of the project application, the supervisor’s review, the external reviews, and the interview. The decision is final. Rejected candidates may re-submit once a revised application for another call.